Salem: Water release from the Mettur dam increased to 1.5 lakh cusecs on Wednesday, as water inflow continues to increase. Houses were flooded near Sathyamangalam, following release of 45,000 cusecs from the Bhavani Sagar dam.
Karnataka released nearly 2 lakh cusecs of water from its reservoirs on Wednesday and water is likely to reach Mettur dam on Wednesday night. Since nearly 1.9 lakh cusecs of water is likely to reach Mettur dam, it will be released completely in the Cauvery river. In order to check safety measures, Salem district collector Rohini R Bhajibhakare inspected reservoirs. About 1.5 lakh cusecs of water is being released from the Mettur dam as on Wednesday and inflow is about 1.6 lakh cusecs.
Similarly, the Bhavani river flooded, following release of 45,000 cusecs of water from the Bhavani Sagar dam. Shutters in the Kodiveri check dam were damaged due to heavy inflow of water in the river. Officials banned tourists and coracle riding in the dam. Banana, turmeric and sugarcane crop over hundreds of acres along the Bhavani river were damaged.
The incessant rain in the Nilgiris is expected to cause greater inflow of water into Bhavani and the Erode district administration called upon people to move to safe places from low lying areas along the river bank. People were also cautioned not to visit river to bath, wash and fishing.
Thottampalayam village near Sathyamangalam was flooded and 15 houses are under water. Similarly, 30 houses were flooded at Agraharam and Kottu Veerampalayam, and the inmates were sent to the nearby government school. Revenue officials arranged relief measures for affected people.
